Johnson & Johnson baby

powder recall: The scandal

What are the facts of the Johnson & Johnson
baby powder scandal ?
• Johnson & Johnson recalled 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby
Powder in October 2019 after the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration found small amounts of asbestos — a substance
known to cause cancer — in a bottle it tested.
• On May 19, 2020, the company announced it will stop selling
talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada.
• The recalled bottles were from lot #22318RB. The FDA said that
it tested another sample of Johnson’s Baby Powder from
another lot and found no asbestos.
• But in response to the recall, major retailers including Walmart,
CVS and Rite Aid pulled all 22-ounce bottles from their shelves.
What ethical issues are involved in this case?

• A large number of babies may be hurt by cancer.

• Johnson & Johnson company failed to achieve the standards

of safety in its product.

• The company preferred the money over the safety of its

customers.
Who are the Stakeholders in this case?

A wide range of people were adversely affected by the talcum

bottles:

• Babies.

• Women (Some scientific studies have shown that women do

have an increased risk of ovarian cancer with talc use in the
genital area.)
Who is responsible for the ethical integrity of such
institutional practices as the Johnson & Johnson
co.
• Individuals and institutions who have the role to provide
checks on such behavior and to ensure the integrity of the
safety of the customers.
• The stakeholders of the company should set a strict
guidelines after this mistake .
How can cases like this be prevented?

Preventing future cases like this will require steps to be taken

at each level:

• Follow the standards of safety and set penalties to whom

who violates this standards.

• Individual employees with higher standards.